Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton will be remembered for her charisma in a range of iconic roles – from her collaborations with Woody Allen to her career-defining turn in the Godfather trilogy and her most spontaneous performance in Annie Hallwhich won her the Academy Award for Best Actress. She is also remembered as a two-time New York Times bestselling author, with titles including Romantic California (2007) and The House That Pinterest Built (2017). Her latest book, Fashion first (2024), stands as a testament to the creative vision that made her one of the most popular and imitated style figures of her era. Throughout her career, Keaton cultivated an image of eccentricity and intellectual independence, shaping her narrative not only as a celebrity but also as an aesthetic icon, with a keen eye that moved between cinema, architecture and design, and left a lasting mark on contemporary culture.
In June, Bonhams will offer a curated selection of Keaton’s multidisciplinary collection – spanning fine art, interiors, iconic fashion and personal objects – at four sales in New York and Los Angeles, in partnership with Fine Arts Group. The selection reveals how Keaton effectively edited her life, guided by a distinct personal taste that shaped her purchases into a reflection of her autobiography and vision. Developing in Bonhams’ New American Ship on 57th Street in New York on June 8, the first (and only) live sale, The Diane Keaton Collection: The Architecture of an Iconthere are 50 lots ranging from the clothing that defined her public image to the personal objects and artworks that shaped her most intimate spaces.
Among the highlights is the original untitled screenplay for Annie Hall (1977), estimated at $2,000-$3,000. Fashion plays a central role in the selection, including the Ralph Lauren two-piece suit and coat worn at the 2020 Academy Awards and featured on the cover of Fashion first (estimate: $2,000-3,000) and a Gucci-themed suit and beret worn at the LACMA Gala (estimate: $2,000-3,000).
A particularly revealing piece is her cabinet of curiosities curated from her personal office, filled with objects and ephemera that informed her visual thinking, offered at a high estimate of $7,000. It is shown alongside a selection from “The Wall”—the large-scale bulletin board in her Sullivan Canyon home used to arrange photographs, small collages and collected fragments (estimate: $8,000-$12,000).
Keaton also collected art, and highlights from her collection include works by artists active during her lifetime, including David Wojnarowicz Buffalo (high estimate: $35,000), Maynard DixonS ‘Train in the Arizona desert (high estimate: $40,000) and Ed MellS ‘ Light in the Valley (high estimate: $15,000). She also maintained her artistic practice throughout her life, seen here in a pair of collages from the 1970s (estimate: $600-800). Additional collages and photographs by Keaton will appear in other sales, with estimates ranging from $300 to $700.
“Bonhams is honored to present her extraordinary collection at our new US flagship on 57th Street, and we are committed to ensuring that Keaton’s legacy—her creativity, ingenuity and eye for design—is celebrated and preserved,” said Bonhams US managing director. Lilly Chan said in a statement.
Prior to the live sale, Bonhams will launch the online Diane Keaton Collection: curated and timeless sales (May 31 – June 9), focusing on Keaton’s widely recognized clothing. Featuring more than 200 items of clothing, jewelry, hats and accessories, the sale brings together designers closely associated with her signature style – including Ralph Lauren, Thom Browne and Comme des Garçons – in a tightly edited selection that reflects her enduring influence on fashion. Highlights include a black Ralph Lauren Purple Label evening tailcoat and trousers worn at the Ralph Lauren Spring 2023 runway show at the Huntington Museum and Gardens (estimate: $1,500-$2,000); a polka dot skirt and belt both screen worn And So It Goes and at the 24th ICP Infinity Awards in New York (estimate: $300-$500); and a Paul Harnden striped linen coat worn with buttons for a December 2019 InStyle feature (estimate: $400-$600).
The next two online sales will be live from June 1st to June 10th. The Diane Keaton Collection: At Home with Diane will include more than 150 pieces of furniture and decorative objects from Keaton’s residences, including her home in Sullivan Canyon. Highlights include a pair of stained wood vanities mounted on Monterey iron (estimate: $1,200-$1,800); an iron-and-rope stained wood Monterey bathroom with a hanging side table and striped cushions (estimate: $1,000-$1,500); an industrial wood-mounted metal desk (estimate: $1,200-$1,800); and a metal ladder with a black cap and decorative elements (estimate: $1,000-$1,500). Rounding out the sale is a selection of California Hill Pottery (estimate: $800-$4,000) and Diné (Navajo) pictorial weavings (estimate: $400-$2,000), along with a variety of kitchen and tableware. The Diane Keaton Collection: Chapters of a Life Edited will feature additional works from Keaton’s personal archive, including photographs, collages and a curated selection of books from her library, grouped into thematic lots with estimates ranging from $800 to $2,000.
As the market for movie memorabilia continues to expand, a major draw will be entertainment-related briefs, including handwritten letters from other actors and directors, as well as scripts and production documents from films such as Baby Boom (1987), Father of the bride (1991) and the Godfather trilogy, with estimates ranging from $200 to $2,000. Two related exhibitions, one opening in Los Angeles on May 5 and another opening in New York on May 29, will present selections from Keaton’s eclectic collection.
